The Baltimore County Police Department is now accepting applications for its Community Crime Prevention and Youth Activity Grants Program for fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018).

Community Crime Prevention grants are available for county Citizens On Patrol groups and other programs aimed at reducing crime.

Youth Activity grants are available for programs that provide ongoing, sustained efforts that focus on early intervention and long-term behavior modification of at-risk youth.

Only non-profit groups, community organizations and individuals that operate or reside in Baltimore County are eligible to receive funding. An application packet that outlines program rules and requirements may be obtained by calling Sebastian Zito of the Police Department's Grants Management Team at 410-887-5637.

Completed applications must be received no later than 3 p.m. on Friday, December 9, 2016.

Baltimore County’s volunteer firefighters will receive $7 million in county aid during the next year. This includes grants to specific fire companies and subsidies for preventive maintenance, fuel and utilities.

The financial support also includes $1.7 million worth of incentives for 20 volunteer companies that provide medical service during hours of peak demand.

Check Distribution at Bowleys Quarters VFC

County Executive Kevin Kamenetz presented a portion of this money at the September 20 annual meeting of the Baltimore County Volunteer Firemen’s Association (BCVFA). This year’s meeting was hosted by the Bowleys Quarters Volunteer Fire Company.

Baltimore County has a joint fire service that includes 25 career stations and 33 volunteer fire, rescue and EMS companies, as well as two volunteer-run canteen companies that supply food and drink to responders during strenuous incidents. The volunteer companies are independent corporations that raise most of the money needed for their operations through carnivals, bingo, fundraising drives and other activities.

In addition, each year Baltimore County provides millions of dollars in support to the volunteers.

Over the course of the year, the County expects to pay out $1.7 million to the 20 companies that provide medic service. This “attended status” program rewards companies that staff medic units during hours of high demand.

New BCVFA Officers

Also on Saturday, the BCVFA elected new officers for 2014-2015. They are:

The AFG grant will not cover the entire cost of replacing SCBA; Baltimore County will contribute significantly to the purchase of this essential gear.

Recruitment and Retention

Senator Mikulski also announced a federal SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant to Maryland State Firemen’s Association. The $2.3 million grant will be used to help volunteer fire companies recruit and retain well-trained responders.

County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and Fire Chief John Hohman – as well as representatives from the Maryland State and Baltimore County Firemen’s Associations – attended the Rosedale announcement.